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Former Georgia Bulldogs star safety Dan Jackson named 2025 NFL Draft 'sleeper' by ESPN

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kelsey Kramer | Last updated Apr 14, 2025 11:44 PM ET

Dan Jackson may have been a star in 2024, but he has not been a Georgia Bullodgs name that has been discussed too much ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

However, that doesn't mean he will go completely unnoticed next week.

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg released his top sleeper picks ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, and Jackson is indeed one of them.

"He'll be a guy who can be on all the [special] teams, can play safety or nickel," a Georgia staff member exclusively told ESPN. "He's smart. You tell him to do something different one time, he'll do it. You never have to worry about him."

Despite not being invited to the NFL Combine, Jackson has had an impressive pre-draft process so far.

After showing out for scouts at the Reese's Senior Bowl, the former Georgia walk-on continued to turn heads in front of representatives from all 32 NFL teams at Georgia's private Pro Day, running a speedy 4.48 40-yard dash.

There goes Dan Jackson running his 40

4.4 per @RustyMansell_ pic.twitter.com/JT2SHaGsQS
— Kramer (@KramerNFL) March 12, 2025

In his final year at Georgia, Jackson logged a career-high 64 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble.

Where Jackson goes from here remains to be seen, however, he wants NFL teams to know just one thing about him before draft day comes.

"I just want them to realize how much I love the game," Jackson said. "Sometimes you can tell by watching on film, but I feel like once they get to know me, they'll realize that, you know, I don't just like football, but I love it. And I will for the rest of my life."

If anyone is used to being an underdog, it's Jackson.

What makes Jackson so special is that Georgia never recruited the hometown kid back in 2019, nor did he ever become a scholarship player when he earned his way to being a full-time starter. And that's exactly why Georgia head coach Kirby Smart believes Jackson has what it takes to make it at the next level.

"I mean, there's somebody out there, some fan, and they say, 'Well, you know, you can do NIL.' Somebody ought to say, 'Dan Jackson, I will take care of you for the rest of your life,' because I promise you, he'll be the best employee, the best worker. I mean, that's after his football career," Smart said of Jackson during Georgia's 2024 regular football season. "Because I really believe the guy got a chance to play in the National Football League because he's fast, he's tough, he's smart."

Don't sleep on Jackson.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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